Brickskeller golden

The venerable Brickskeller will be 50 years old this year. It first opened its doors on 7 October 1957.

For several years now, it's been run by Dave Alexander and his wife Diane (granddaughter of the original owners). The bar is in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most extensive bottled beer list of any bar in the world: more than 1000 beers.

Today Dave and Diane begin the new 2007 year in fine fashion, tapping a firkin of Harviestoun Brewery’s Ptarmigan Ale.

Harviestoun is a wonderful brewery out of Scotland, whose Bitter and Twisted was the Supreme Champion Beer of Britain a few years back (and in bottled form, when relatively fresh, a favorite of mine - dancingly crisp - if there be such a taste - with a kiss of citrus)

Dave Alexander's description: This is a 4.5% abv delicious, robust, flavorsome beer brewed from a blend of pale, crystal and wheat malts. It has a strong fruity palate which is nicely balanced by the blend of Hersbrucker and Challenger hops and finished with a late hopping of Pioneer. (to non-geeks, that means this stuff is YUMMY!)

That's an auspicious manner in which to begin its 50th Anniversary celebrations ... which Dave Alexander (known as DA) says will continue throughout the year.

[UPDATE 2007.07.26]
One such event occurred today, when All About Beer Magazine celebrated the relaunch of its magazine at a party at the Brickskeller. The cover article features Dave Alexander and the Bricks. The picture above was taken today - obviously not in January!